News
Thought controlled prosthesis selected best science project
A successful collaboration between Sahlgrenska University Hospital and Chalmers University of Technology resulted in a thought controlled prosthesis. An innovation which has now been selected by IVA, the Swedish Royal Engineering Science Academy, as one of the best science projects in Sweden 2013. To read more, visit IVA. At the beginning of last year, the first surgery using the groundbreaking technique was performed performed at Sahlgrenska University Hospital.
Sahlgrenska I.C. at the first EquipAid conference
The international conference EquipAid was the first to be dedicated to medical equipment support projects for healthcare facilities in the field of international aid. The overall purpose with the conference was to create a platform and structured network for a more efficient cooperation between actors in the field as well as encourage synergies. During the two days a number of subjects were addressed in plenary sessions, round table discussions and in networking activities for the 200 participants who came from all corners of the world.
Dr. Jan Fridén at TEDxZürich 2013
Dr. Jan Fridén, professor and senior consultant of Hand Surgery at Sahlgrenska University Hospital, was one of the speakers at TEDxZürich in early October. Under the topic “Loss and Recapture of Hand Control”, he described his dedication to Tetraplegia Hand Surgery – the surgical technique used to restore hand control and function of patients with spinal cord injuries. Even in cases of complete paralyses of all four extremities, mobility can be restored through the transfer of functioning nerves and muscles. For example, grip function in the hand can provide a patient with the capacity to eat, dress and drive a manual wheelchair.
Study visit to Human Bridge
As a part of Sahlgrenska I.C:s ongoing actitivities to raise awereness about international development aid a study visit was arranged togheter with our main partner, Human Bridge, to their head office and main logisitical hub in Holsbybrunn.
Participating in the delegation were thirteen representatives from Regionservice, the dedicated department within the Region Västra Götaland for common services and, in addition, also one of our major donors of surplus medical equipment. The purpose of the visit was to enhance the knowledge on how Human Bridge operates and to share experiences and ideas on how to further improve the cooperation.
The programme included information and sharing sessions and also a well prepared visit in the warehouses. In this, we had the opportunity to study how donated medical equipment are maintained and reconditioned in preparation for being sent as development assistance, mainly to healthcare institutions in Sub-Saharan Africa.
A quick stop at Rehab Station Stockholm
During a visit in Stockholm, Sahlgrenska I.C. took the opportunity to visit Rehab Station Stockholm – a reputable rehabilitation clinic especially known for treatment of spinal cord injuries. Both Swedish and international patients are welcome to the clinic – either for day time training or accommodation in one of the wheelchair accessible rooms. A vast majority of the patients come from different parts of Sweden due to the agreements with county councils around the country.
Sahlgrenska I.C. is looking forward to a future collaboration regarding international patients who have received highly specialized care at Sahlgrenska University Hospital. Lars Holmström, Chief Operating Officer at Rehab Station Stockholm – thank you for having us!
Transplant researchers at Sahlgrenska receive funding
Suchitra Holgersson, professor in Transplantation Biology at the Sahlgrenska Academy and Michael Olausson, professor and chief physician at the Transplant Institute at Sahlgrenska University Hospital, were recently granted with SEK 400 000 from Gelinfonden. Both have an extensive experience within stam cell research.
The funding enables them to take this research further, more specifically to recreate arteries, blood vessels and liver tissue. In the future, recreating a whole liver with stam cells, and thus become an alternative to transplantation, will hopefully be possible. Even if we have a long way to go before this becomes a reality, Michael Olausson is positive that discoveries can be made that will allow us to take quick steps forward. – We began to transplant organs 60 years ago, but we have made more progress the past 10 years than the previous 50 years, says Michael Olausson. The research provides valuable knowledge for other medical areas as well. For example it gives researchers more information about how to store kidneys and other organs outside the body for a longer period of time.
To learn more about the upcoming research and the method behind it, please visit Sahlgrenska University Hospital.
Kerstin Hagberg appointed associate professor
Physiotherapist Kerstin Hagberg, part of the world leading team at the Centre of Orthopaedic Osseointegration (COO) at Sahlgrenska University Hospital, has been appointed associate professor. Her dissertation and research focuses on clinical studies of function and quality of life among transfemoral amputees and treatment with osseointegration. We had a quick chat with her about the appointment.
Congratulations, Kerstin! Associate professor, what does this mean to you?
– I am both honoured and happy that I have taken an additional step in my career. It allows me to apply for research funding only available for associate professors. I am actually doing this as as we speak. Furthermore, I am also authorized to be a member of examination boards and supervisor for PhD students – given someone asks me.
How will this academic distinction affect your work?
– No change at all, really. But I am happy that my research at the Department of Prosthetics and Orthotics at Sahlgrenska University Hospital can contribute to a field where the research at other hospitals in Sweden and worldwide has so far been limited.
Lygdman gives presentation at Equip´aid conference
In November 2013 Sahlgrenska I.C. will participate in the conference Equip´aid – Sharing for a better future. This will be the first international meeting of reference devoted to the improvement of medical equipment support projects for healthcare facilities in the field of international aid. Our International Aid Coordinator, Anders Lygdman, will participate and also deliver a presentation to the conference plenary on the subject: “Region Västra Götaland – an example of a coordinated system for donation of surplus medical equipment for international material aid“
Marika Qvist about healthcare export at Almedalen week
Each year the Almedalen week in Visby, Sweden, gathers thousands of people interested in political and social issues. It has become a venue where politicians and representatives from different kinds of organizations can meet in an informal setting. During the 2012 Almedalen week, 1 800 events were held, a number that is expected to increase to over 2000 this year. This morning Region Skåne arranged a seminar called “Healthcare export for growth” where Sahlgrenska I.C:s CEO Marika Qvist participated.
Visiting the international dep. at Klinikum Nürnberg
During a market trip to Germany, Oscar Lindow and Paulina Sarbinowska from Sahlgrenska I.C. visited Klinikum Nürnberg. We shared our experiences regarding international patients, discussed similarities but also the challenges facing us as a consequence of the EU-directive for cross border healthcare. Tanya Porter, head of the International department has a long background within Medical Tourism and has been responsible for developing the international department at the clinic from the very start when it was founded, in 2004.